INEC

About Us

In 1991, the former President of the United Republic of Tanzania, the late Ali Hassan Mwinyi, appointed a Commission under the Chairmanship of the late Chief Justice (Retd) Francis Nyalali. The purpose of the Commission was to gather public opinion on whether to continue with a single-party system or to have a multi-party system. Based on the report of the Commission, Article 3(1) of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977 was amended to make Tanzania a multi-party state.

Similarly, the Political Parties Act, (No. 5 of 1992) was enacted to facilitate the registration of political parties. Also, the National Electoral Act, (No. 1 of 1985) and the Local Government Electoral Act, (No. 4 of 1979) were amended to eliminate the single-party system and allow for elections to be held under a multi-party system. Following these amendments, the National Electoral Commission was established on January 13, 1993.

In addition, in 2021, a Stakeholder Meeting was held to Discuss the State of Democracy of Many Political Parties in Tanzania. Among other things, the meeting came out with a resolution to improve the electoral system in the country. Thus, on 23 December 2021, the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, formed a task force to assess the state of democracy in order to make recommendations to improve democratic issues and the political situation in the country.

The task force made recommendations for amendments to the National Electoral Act, Chapter 343 and the Local Government Elections Act, Chapter 292. These amendments led to the enactment of the Independent National Electoral Commission Act No. 2 of 2024 and the Presidential, Parliamentary and Councillor Elections Act No. 1 of 2024. Following the enactment of these Acts, the name of the National Electoral Commission changed to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Independent National Electoral Commission

The Independent National Electoral Commission is established in accordance with Article 74(1) of the Constitution of the United Republic of Tanzania of 1977. Subject to the provisions of Articles 74(7) and (11) of the Constitution and Section 6(1) of the Independent National Electoral Commission Act No. 2 of 2024, the Commission is an independent and autonomous body and makes its own decisions regarding the performance of its functions by meetings. In carrying out its constitutional functions, the Commission shall not be bound by the orders or instructions of any person or any department of the Government or the views of any political party.